Welcome to I-LIST,INSPIRELLE‘s little black book, … a lovingly curated selection of the essentials you need for living in the City of Lights – prepared by people in the know.
Looking for a party venue or a medical specialist? A place to pamper yourself or activities for your kids? We list only “les bonnes adresses” that have been tried and tested by INSPIRELLE‘s network of trusted friends. Check back often, as we’ll keep adding new ones!

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Situated in what once was the “Passy La Muette” train station, in the heart of the 16th arrondissement, La Gare is an impressive spot for brunch. In nicer weather, you can enjoy sitting in one of its two lush outdoor terraces. On weekends, they have an all-you-can-eat buffet spread and entertainment for the little ones. It’s also an elegant spot lunch or dinner on Monday thru Saturday, too!

For over a century, Angelina’s has built a reputation as a place of sophistication and indulgence. Its renowned Africanhot chocolate is so thick that you almost feel like you’re digging into a bowl of soup. It’s made from three types of African chocolate from Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is made especially for Angelina’s. It is a beautiful place where the likes of Proust and Coco Chanel frequented. While you’re there, be sure to try the Mont Blanc, Angelina’s trademark pastry since 1903!

Located on a tiny island 5 minutes by car from Étoile in Paris, this spacious loft style brasserie is housed in a 19th-century building with a dinosaur skeleton suspended above the entire dining room. They also offer a weekend brunch menu with freshly squeezed juices, mini viennosseries such as “feuilletée au Nutella” for chocolate lovers, an appetizing selection of antipasti and Italian desserts.

Just a few meters away from the beautiful Opéra Garnier, the Grand Hotel serves a delicious hot chocolate in its adjoining restaurant and bar, Café de la Paix. You can ask for the chocolate to be fort en goût (very strong) or touché delicate (delicate touch) depending on your preference. Hot chocolate is served all day and even late into the evening, so it’s perfect for that late night craving. It’s another pricey venue but the place itself is stunning and the hot chocolate is wonderful.

Café Marlette is an adorable, quirky place where you can find homemade BIO food, gluten free cakes and delicious coffee. They also do incredible BIO breakfasts, brunches and lunches as well as snacks for l’heure du goûter

A small Mexican restaurant in the third arrondissement where the lack of space (and maybe the strength of the frozen margaritas) means that you naturally get to know your neighbor. There is even a small speakeasy hidden at the back of the restaurant behind a white, unmarked door.

We adore this charming, chalet-style restaurant and event space on its own island in the Bois de Boulogne in the West end of Paris. The voyage there itself is unique – you can row, yes we said row, your way across the lake. Or, you can park and then take a ferry from the public parking area (free for restaurant goers, 1,50€ round-trip for island hoppers). On fine days, you can pack a picnic and find a spot of grass to spread out. Or, you can book a brunch at their elegant restaurant.

Once known as the original American diner in Paris,Coffee Parisiennow boasts 3 restaurants, with talk of a fourth opening!Count on American staples like eggs benedict, bagels with cream cheese and lox or French toast with grapefruit. For a French touch, enjoy a big cup ofcafé au lait.

Crom’Exquis is a gourmet restaurant in the 8th arrondissement, which serves up traditional French food, using the finest produce, including its own garden products such as pea shoots, red shiso and cress. On Saturday evenings, we highly recommend you join the chef, Pierre Meneau, at his table d’hôte (host’s table) where he indulges his creativity. Only three tables are available, so book ahead! Read our review of Crom’Exquis here!

It’s not often that you walk into a restaurant that looks like you’re in a shabby chic, Parisian apartment; but when you do, you’re in for a real treat. Here, you’ll find guests drinking, dining and flirting in the bedroom, living room, dining room or boudoir, making themselves quite literally “at home”. There’s even a Ping-Pong table and a smoking room hidden behind a mirrored wardrobe… trèschic.

Metro: Corentin Cariou (line 7)
A large, banquet hall-style restaurant offering a wide range of traditional Chinese dishes, from classic seafood and meat courses to gastronomic specialities like abalone and sea cucumber, as well as some Thai and Japanese dishes.

The first bakery in Paris to offer traditional French pastries 100% Gluten-free. Run by husband and wife team François and Marie, the bakery is warm and inviting and their pastries will have you coming back for more.

Holybelly is owned and operated by Sarah Mouchot and Nico Alary, who together create a new menu every month – a mix of classic French and Western comfort food, based on what products are in season. Their staple: Sunday breakfast.

When INSPIRELLE recommends breakfast at Hotel l’Amour or “Hotel Love”, it should be a late romantic breakfast for two. In fact, why not get away for a weekend with your partner and reserve one of the intimate hotel bedchambers?

Imagine sipping your café au lait and reading your Sunday newspaper quietly in one of Paris’ most iconic and legendary Art Deco brasseries. Known for being frequented by politicians, artists, the literati and glitterati over the years, La Coupole is a popular tourist stop, but mornings are a tranquil time to go for a traditional French breakfast of coffee, juice and a basket of fresh croissants and pains au chocolats. English menus and wi-fi are a plus.

The American School of Paris (ASP) in Saint Cloud, a western suburb of Paris, is a great place for families to find innovative activities and holiday camps in English. Through its Extension Programthe private, international school opens its world-class facilities to external students aged 4 to 18 during school vacations as well as Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the school year.

Camps and year-round activities led in English include basketball, tennis, soccer, coding, science, fashion design, filmmaking, theatre and more. Kids looking to improve their English skills have a choice of English immersion classes and even intensive workshops to prepare for the English BAC exam or the SAT American college entrance exam. At ASP, there’s bound to be a camp or workshop right for your child.

If you love some of INSPIRELLE‘s portraits and Paris photos, turn to professional photographer Alexis Duclos. One of our most fervent supporters, Alexis is an experienced award-winning photographer and video cameraman who can capture your individual and family portraits for business or personal use as well as produce corporate videos to enhance your company websites.

With more than 15 shops across 4 continents, Maison de Famille furniture and decor are a fusion of classic, ethnic and modern styles. This blending of new and old, local and exotic immediately wins over a clientele of all ages and styles.

An elegant Chinese restaurant hidden on a small street near the busy rue de Passy. We love their crispy Peking duck lunch (98€ for 2 people), which features a yummy variety of dim sum, half a crispy duck per person, served 3 ways, rice, and dessert. And, unlike most other restaurants, there’s no need to order the duck in advance!

When Parisian Cecile Birgand Ayasse couldn’t find original workshops for her own four kids, she set up Apprends et Rêve (“To learn and dream” in English) to create her own solution. From singing lessons with a coach from “The Voice” to Flamenco, computer coding or graffiti art, they offer imaginative weekend workshops and holiday camps where children aged 3 to 15. Activities are taught in French at various locations around Paris.

PERK FOR INSPIRELLE READERS!Mention INSPIRELLE when you sign up for a holiday camp or year-long workshop at Apprends et Rêve (“Learn and Dream“) and get a free yearly membership PLUS 15% off any one-day reservation.

Right in the heart of the Passy area, you’ll feel transported to Thailand at Ayada Spa, where you can get a Thai massage from smiling masseuses trained at the famous Wat Pho in Bangkok. Or sit back in a comfy armchair and give your feet a sensory treat with a 30 or 60 minute reflexology treatment. If you have more time, they also have a small hammam.

A compact nail bar and esthetic salon located off rue de Passy in the 16tharrondissement that is open Sundays and closed Saturdays. Treat yourself, often, to a double whammy manicure/pedicure treatment or a relaxing facial for 55 euros each. Perfect for the busy woman managing a budget.

Institut de la Tour is a private Catholic school offering an Anglophone section with over 500 students in the collège and lycée programs. Teachers and administrators aim to help their students develop intellectually, personally and spiritually employing their philosophy of “s’élèver ensemble” (raise them together).

See website for details on the Anglophone section application procedures, which begin in October for the following school year.

They also offer Wednesday afternoon English immersion programs for primary and pre-primary (maternelle) aged children.

Coming from three generations of Italian hairdressers, Cristina and her staff are very friendly and great with kids too. You can even get your nails done while getting your tresses colored, and it won’t break the bank.

For an amazing facial by Kristina, who has been practising skincare for 26 years, visit her home salon in the heart of the 16th arrondissement near the Arc de Triomphe. Her soothing treatments, all designed to help the anti-aging process, include relaxation facials, oxygen facials with collagen, glycolic acid peels, and lymphatic drainage treatments.

Acne problems or other skin problems on the face in general? She can help!

Finish up with dazzling eyes with her eye treatments and eyebrow designs or a parraffin treatment.

Ecole Internationale Bilingue (EIB) Paris is a network of bilingual schools which welcomes international students of more than 70 nationalities in its co-ed and secular campuses around Paris. EIB offers a bilingual education to students from preschool (maternelle) through high school, according to the British, American and IB qualifications.

EIB’s four campuses in the 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements follow the official program of the French Ministry of Education (hence it is sous-contrat with the government e and tuition is partially subsidized), with daily lessons in English at various levels.

EIB Victor Hugo follows an English-language, international curriculum, with daily French lessons, from pre-school through high school. Students can earn an internationally-recognized High School Diploma or IB Diploma.

We adore this charming, chalet-style restaurant and event space on its own island in the Bois de Boulogne in the West end of Paris. The voyage there itself is unique – you can row, yes we said row, your way across the lake. Or, you can park and then take a ferry from the public parking area (free for restaurant goers, 1,50€ round-trip for island hoppers). On fine days, you can pack a picnic and find a spot of grass to spread out. Or, you can book a brunch at their elegant restaurant.

The International School of Paris (ISP) is the only school within Paris offering all three International Baccalaureate programs. From nursery school to high school, the educational program combining academics, arts and sports is designed to motivate students to become well rounded, sociable and open-minded. Classes are kept small (18-20 students) to encourage exchange between teacher and students. Its motto: “Educating for Complexity”.

Through their popular ISP Plus programs, also open to non-ISP students, they offer innovative and educational language and activity camps led in English on Saturdays during the school year and over the major school holidays.

Once known as the original American diner in Paris,Coffee Parisiennow boasts 3 restaurants, with talk of a fourth opening!Count on American staples like eggs benedict, bagels with cream cheese and lox or French toast with grapefruit. For a French touch, enjoy a big cup ofcafé au lait.

Caroline is an Independent Educational Consultant and founder of A+CollegeCoaching. Based in Paris, she helps families identify and evaluate options for college and universities abroad as well as navigate the admissions process with the goal of finding the best academic, social and financial fit for their child. Having raised her own children in Germany, Japan and now France, she is particularly sensitive to the needs of ‘global nomad kids’.

Caroline holds a BA from the American University of Paris, an MBA from the University of Hartford, and a Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from UC Irvine. She stays on top of college admission trends by regularly visiting college campuses, attending conferences and webinars and is a member of IECA and OACAC.